ABSTRACT
Perfectionism is common but often misunderstood in sport. Perhaps the biggest advancement in perfectionism research in the last 40 years has been the reconceptualization of perfectionism as multidimensional. Prior to this development, perfectionism was conceptualized as unidimensional and considered largely in terms of self-related irrational beliefs. Additional support for the notion that perfectionism should be studied as multidimensional has been provided by the higher-order model of perfectionism. The amount of variance for some dimensions of perfectionism is similar to other personality characteristics normally considered traits. The evidence to support the existence of different types of perfectionism, such as healthy and unhealthy perfectionists, is questionable. Researchers need to identify factors that moderate the effects of perfectionism in sport. This research is required to provide answers to key questions regarding when and for whom perfectionism is likely to contribute to good or bad health and better or worse performance outcomes.
